We should rejoice at the development of shale recovery of oil and natural gas. We are truly energy independent as the world’s largest energy producer.

Energy-using manufacturing is coming home. The cost of driving and heating our homes is down. Hostile oil-producing countries around the world are less able to dictate prices or threaten supply interruptions.

The Green Lobby hates the new energy boom It spoils their unrealistic dreams of 100% reliance on renewable energy. Oil and gas are under attack from all sides. Greens want to keep it in the ground or make it expensive through government action.

The defenders of truth and prosperity have been winning well-funded green lawsuits. But the greens have not given up and are seeking new ways to stifle oil and gas.

Recent polls show climate change ranks even lower on the public’s scale of important issues. This phenomenon is called “Al Gore Fatigue.” After years of wild exaggerations and false predictions, most of us became skeptical of the fear mongering of the glitterati. Politicians, however, haven’t caught on because they still have visions of gaining more control over society.

Between 1907 and 1920, utility regulation came to the US. This was during what is known as the progressive era.

It is a widely believed, historic misunderstanding that consumers were so upset by monopoly abuse that government regulation was a response to public outcry. That is not at all what happened.

It was the utilities themselves that wanted regulation and it was they who drafted the legislation to establish regulation.

Jim Clarkson, Columbia